Music

Spring 2023 report

Spring Term in the Music department got off to a swinging start with a superb Jazz Evening, which saw a cabaret-style setting in the Prevett Hall play host to an enthusiastic audience of parents, families and friends. The evening line-up featured several solo jazz performers on piano, saxophone and voice alongside the smooth, expertly blended sounds of the Middle School Jazz Ensemble and Senior School Jazz Band.

A brand-new initiative then came to Habs Elstree in the shape of the Habs Company Music Festival. This inaugural event, hosted by the Boys’ School, brought together over 150 students from five of the Habs Company of Schools for a festival-styled afternoon of music-making and samba drum workshops. Seeing the students making new friends, singing and playing together was a powerful demonstration of the musical community we share, culminating in the uplifting sound and energetic choreography of the massed finale number, Stevie Wonder’s Another Star. We look forward to an even bigger event next year, which will hopefully bring together all 10 of the Habs’ schools.

Our Spring Chamber Concert offered another opportunity for showcasing the musical talents of soloist performers, in a programme of musical theatre, Classical, Romantic and modern music. The Senior Trombone Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Senior Flute Ensemble and Guitar Ensemble also featured in the programme, performing with great musicianship and panache.

Open Mic concerts continue to be a popular Friday feature of the Music department calendar, with the opportunity for pupils to put themselves forward to share their own musical interests and passions to an audience of staff and pupils. The Spring Term Open Mic Concert proved a highly enjoyable way to spend lunchtime, with performances from many different instrumentalists, singers and chamber ensembles.

With chamber music in mind, we were delighted that our Piano Trio and two String Quartets were invited to represent Habs’ Girls in the qualifying rounds of this year’s South East School’s Chamber Music Competition, held at North London Collegiate School at the beginning of March.

Along with performances from each ensemble, each group also received a coaching session from the adjudicator, Michael Dussek, who offered expert guidance and feedback. The standard of playing was incredible and we were very proud of our Habs’ Girls’ musicians, who all worked extremely hard in preparation for the event. Congratulations to the Piano Trio, comprised of Nyla (L4 Ansuz), Isabella (L4 Ansuz), Bella (U4 Aesc) and the De Silva String Quartet, made up of Eliza (U4 A), Fran (U5 Ansuz), Xiao (U4 Aesc) and Eunice (U5 A) who were then selected from over 70 ensembles to go through to the Final Concert.

The Final Concert saw 15 ensembles in three categories performing in the beautiful setting of St George’s Church, Hanover Square. The standard was exceptionally high and we were thrilled with how well our ensembles performed.

The Spring Concert then brought the term to a very special close, albeit with a farewell to our brilliant Upper Sixth musicians taking part in their very last performance at Habs. Senior Choir, Wind Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, St Catherine Singers and Symphony Orchestra all featured in the programme, which included a dazzling performance by Amelie (U6 MSQ), playing the second movement of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto.

We wish our departing Upper Sixth musicians all the very best for the future and hope that they continue to share the wonder of their music-making, which has been at the heart of the Music department this last year.

Congratulations and thanks to all the students who have performed this term and who continue to make such a wonderful contribution to the musical life of the school. Thanks also to all the Music department staff and Visiting Music Teachers for their ongoing support, encouragement and musical expertise.